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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Battling injuries all spring, the Mets have been mostly healed for a few days now. But health is one thing. Production is another.
David Wright began producing in a big way on Thursday in a 9-1 victory over the Astros, hitting a grand slam off Livan Hernandez in Wright's third game back from injury. Jason Bay drove in two runs, and Daniel Murphy and Josh Thole each finished with two hits to lead the offensive attack.
With the Mets already ahead, 4-1, in the fourth, Wright launched his first home run of the spring just over the left-field wall, plating Thole, Mike Pelfrey and Ruben Tejada.
"Livan, he can be a nightmare," Wright said. "He just goes and he exploits your weakness. I kind of got lucky and ran into one. We put together a good inning, though. That's the key to a good offense, is to keep that line moving and let the next guy do the damage."
Wright is scheduled to play again Friday, appearing in a day game after a night game for the first time this spring.
Given the cushion provided by the Mets offense, Pelfrey submitted his best and longest start of the spring, limiting the Astros to one run over 6 1/3 innings. Pelfrey struck out three and walked none, allowing three hits.
Hernandez did not make it out of the fourth inning, though only four of the eight runs against him were earned. Still, the right-hander's Grapefruit League ERA rose from 4.38 to 5.63.
The Astros did receive two innings of shutout relief from Wilton Lopez, who struck out one and allowed one hit.
Up next: Bobby Parnell will put his scoreless-innings streak on the line when the Mets travel to Jupiter, Fla., on Friday for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Cardinals. Entering Spring Training needing to earn his spot in the Opening Day bullpen, Parnell has done precisely that, reeling off 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless Grapefruit League innings. He will pitch in relief of Dillon Gee against the Cards, who will counter with their Opening Day starter, Kyle Lohse.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
